Vacuum generation apparatus with closed fluid circuit ejector system, especially for vacuum generation of home refrigerator cells and the like



Nov. 9, 1965 GASBARRO 3,216,214

VACUUM GENERATION APPARATUS WITH CLOSED FLUID CIRCUIT EJECTOR SYSTEM,ESPECIALLY FOR VACUUM GENERATION OF HOME REFRIGERATOR CELLS AND THE LIKEFiled May 18, 1964 Fig. 2

INVENTOR LUC/ANO GASBARRO United States Patent 3,216,214 VACUUMGENERATION APPARATUS WITH CLOSED FLUID CIRCUIT EJECTOR SYSTEM,ESPECIALLY FOR VACUUM GENERATION OF HOME REFRIGERATOR CELLS AND THE LIKELuciano Gasbarro, Florence, Italy, assignor to Breconvuot Anstalt,Vaduz, Liechtenstein, a corporation of Liechtenstein Filed May 18, 1964,Ser. No. 368,156 Claims priority, application Italy, May 21, 1963,11,600/ 63 Claims. (Cl. 6217()) It is known that for some uses thegeneration of a relative vacuum is determined by suction systems, thesesystems being formed by an ejector system with a chamber wherein thevacuum is generated, terminating in correspondence of a profiled nozzlefor a pressurized circulating fluid; in general, the water distributionmains having the usual pressure of the mains circuit is directlyutilized for the pressurized fluid.

The present invention relates to a vacuum generation system of theaforesaid type, which however avoids the necessity of a connection to anapparatus of the hydric or water mains (cock or the like) determiningthe vacuum formation with a practically self-acting system. Although theinvention is not restricted to this application, it seems that the mainapplication is that for the vacuum generation in a home refrigeratorcell, in such a manner as to release the refrigerator from the necessityof a connection with a suitable conduit to a cock or other distributionapparatus of the water mains, or of the installation of an appropriateapparatus of the kind.

Substantially according to the invention, provisions are made for thefluid designed to the suction effect, with a suitable vent means, in theclosed circuit being inserted on one side a forced circulation meanssuch as a pump and on the other side a profiled section designed to becombined with an axial nozzle to form an ejector designed to generatethe vacuum in the recess connected thereto.

In the embodiment, provisions may be made for a continuous tubularcircuit with a suitable circulation pump, in which the suction apparatusis inserted for the vacuum forming and downstream thereto a gas ventmeans is arranged, practically made up under the form of an expansionpassage advantageously connected to a cavity designed to assure thefilling and (forming of a sufficient fluid accumulation tank.

For installation in a home refrigerator, the closed conduit or pass'agemay be supported on the rear face or at the bottom of the refrigeratorcasing, for example in a vertical or horizontal arrangement.

For the control of the electric circulation pump provisions may be madefor a manual switch or also an automatic system, for instance, combinedwith the refrigerator cell door and/or of the vacuum cell, while aninterruption of the operation may be timed and when the vacuum extent ordegree of the vacuum cell reached will be higher than a pre-determinedrate.

The invention will be better understood following the description andthe accompanying drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of saidinvention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective scheme of installation of a homerefrigerator;

FIG. 2 illustrates a scheme in a vertical section;

FIG. 3 illustrates a demonstrative scheme; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a scheme of control of the operation of the vacuumapparatus.

As it can be seen diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, thevacuum-forming system comprises a closed pipe circuit 1 in which acirculation pump 2 is inserted and in the thrust branch thereof, thepipe 1 is coupled to or merges with an ejector housing 1a having withinit an ejector nozzle 1b which is coextensive with pipe 1. A conduit orpipe 3 communicates the housing with cell or chamber 5 Where the vacuumis to be effected, with a suitable check valve 3a provided to preventair from leaking into chamber 5 from pipe circuit 1. Downstream of theejector 1a and valve 3a, a suitable pipe vent 4 is located, coupledadvantageously to a hopper or tank 4a, made up as a funnel which servesboth for the accumulation of the fluid and the filling, while theventing of the gases, eventually mixed with the fluid by eflect of thesuction, is allowed.

With regard to an installation in a home refrigerator, the plant may bearranged on the rear face of the refrigerator cell 10 in the verticalarrangement as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, alternatively, provisionsmay be made for a horizontal arrangement, for example, at the base ofthe refrigerator. The circuit may be circular.

In particular in the application above statedprovisions being made togenerate the vacuum in a cell or hermetic envelope 5 having a door 12,where the conduit 3 is led to-a control of the motor 2a of the pump 2may be provided for through a consent determined by a switch 7controlled for instance by the refrigerator door 11 in such a manner asto impart the consent to the operation for the vacuum generation onlywhen the door is closed. On the other side, provisions may be made alsofor a second switch 8 actuated by a lung membrane 9, for example, anexpansible membrance such as a pressure-responsive bellows, which issensitive to the extent or rate of vacuum in the cell or hermeticenvelope 5 so as to break the circuit of the motor 2a of the pump 2 whenthe desired vacuum rate is thus attained and to restore it when thevacuum rate drops to a certain limiting level, which may beappropriately calibrated.

The closed circuit circulation fluid may be any suit able fluid,consistently with the sucked vapours, especially even water.

In this way a vacuum generation system particularly cheap and whichavoids any emulsioning danger with the lubricants of a conventionaldecompressor is thus obtained.

It is intended that the drawing only illustrates an embodiment, givenonly as a practical demonstration of the invention, said invention beingin conditions as to be varied in the for-ms and arrangement withouthowever departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forinstance, the circulation pump 2 may be of the mechanical control type(for instance connected to the door motion) or an otherwise actuatedtype.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator for domestic use, comprising a casing forming acell closed by a front door and having a rear face, and an hermeticenvelope in said refrigerator in which a vacuum may be generated, thecombination of a closed tubular circuit located adjacent the rear faceof said casing having coupled thereto a fluid circulation pump, anejector housing having an ejector nozzle therein coextensive with saidtubular circuit whereby to form an ejector, a connecting conduit betweensaid ejector housing and said envelope for forming a vacuum in saidenvelope, and a branch line coupled to said circuit comrnunicating withan open reservoir which also serves as an air vent.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein a wall of said hermeticenvelope comprises an expansible membrane responsive to the vacuumprevailing in said envelope, and a control circuit for the operation ofsaid pump, comprising a first switch actuated by the door of therefrigerator whereby to actuate said control circuit only when said dooris closed, and a second switch controlled by said expansible membranefor actuating said control circuit when the vacuum in said envelopedrops below a predetermined value.

3. In a refrigerator for domestic use, comprising a casing forming acell closed by a front door, and an hermetic envelope in saidrefrigerator in which a vacuum may be generated, the combination of aclosed tubular circuit comprising a fluid circulation pump, a nozzleenclosed within an enlarged housing coaxial with said tubular circuit toform an ejector, a connecting conduit between said housing and saidenvelope for forming a vacuum in said envelope, a branch linecommunicatingwith an open reservoir coupled to said closed circuit whichalso serves as an air vent, an expansible membrane formed in a wall ofsaid envelope pressure-responsive to the vacuum in said envelope, and acontrol circuit for the operation of said pump comprising a first switchto actuate said control circuit only when said door is closed, and asecond switch controlled by said membrane to actuate said controlcircuit when the vacuum in said envelope falls below a predeterminedvalue.

4. In a refrigerator for domestic use comprising 2. casing forming acell in which a vacuum may be generated, the combination of a closedtubular circuit comprising a fluid circulation pump, an ejector housingformed as an enlargement of the tubular circuit and having a nozzletherein to form an ejector, a connecting conduit between said housingenlargement and said envelope for forming a vacuum in said cell, and anopen reservoir communicating with said tubular circuit which also servesas an air vent.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein a wall of said cell hasan expansible membrane sensitive to the vacuum in said cell, and acontrol circuit for the operation of said pump, comprising a firstswitch to actuate said control circuit only when said cell is closed,and a second switch controlled by said membrane to actuate the controlcircuit when the vacuum in said cell falls below a predetermined value.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,417 2/19Boerner 62268 2,023,444 =12/35 Roe 62-100 2,109,002 2/ 38 Warren 622682,119,320 5/38 Dobrowsky 62268 2,425,816 8/47 Maxson 62268 2,894,8457/59 Stoddard 62-268 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A REFRIGERATOR FOR DOMESTIC USE, COMPRISING A CASING FORMING ACELL CLOSED BY A FRONT DOOR AND HAVING A REAR FACE, AND AN HERMETICENVELOPE IN SAID REFRIGERATOR IN WHICH A VACUUM MAY BE GENERATED, THECOMBINATION OF A CLOSED TUBULAR CIRCUIT LOCATED ADJACENT THE REAR FACEOF SAID CASING HAVING COUPLED THERETO A FLUID CIRCULATION PUMP, ANEJECTOR HOUSING HAVING AN EJECTOR NOZZLE THEREIN COEXTENSIVE WITH SAIDTUBULAR CIRCUIT WHEREBY TO FORM AN EJECTOR, A CONNECTING CONDUIT BETWEENSAID EJECTOR HOUSING AND SAID ENVELOPE FOR FORMING A VACUUM IN SAIDENVELOPE, AND A BRANCH LINE COUPLED TO SAID CIRCUIT COMMUNICATING WITHAN OPEN RESERVOIR WHICH ALSO SERVES AS AN AIR VENT.